A Siphon is a magical Illyrian jewel that allows magic to be channeled.
Overview[]
Siphons are gifted to warriors with large amounts of power to give them an advantage in battle. They filter raw power and allow the user to transform their power into something more subtle and varied, into different objects, typically shields, weapons, or armor. Siphons concentrate and focus an Illyrian's power. This object manipulates magic to be more precise. Siphons don't contain an infinite amount of power and can run out. To use a Siphon, the person's power must be compatible with it. For instance, Rhysand is unable to use a Siphon, as his power overloads a Siphon, causing it to shatter.
Siphon colors are red, blue, or green. The color of the magic will be the same as the color of the Siphon. Although most users wear one Siphon, Cassian and Azriel each wear seven. They normally carry two, one in each hand, the others appear when their armor is deployed.
Rhysand tells Feyre Archeron that "the power of stronger Illyrians tends toward 'incinerate now, ask questions later.' They have little magical gifts beyond that, the killing power." He continues by telling her to "imagine the difference between hurling a bucket of paint against the wall and using a brush. The Siphons allow for the magic to be nimble, precise on the battlefield, when its natural state lends itself toward something far messier and unrefined, and potentially dangerous when you're fighting in tight quarters."[1]
History[]
A Court of Wings and Ruin[]
When Elain Archeron is kidnapped by the Cauldron and taken to the Hybern war camp, Feyre alters her features to impersonate Ianthe, the High Priestess who was killed by the Weaver hours before. In order for her costume to look complete, she needs a circlet like the one Ianthe wore and since it had a blue stone, she asks Azriel to lend her one of his siphons and has a blacksmith replicate her circlet.
In A Court of Wings and Ruin, Chapter 56, Cassian bellows for his Illyrian soldiers to put up their shields. Their siphons produce shields of red, blue, and green. As such, they are presumably the only three colors of siphons.
Trivia[]
- In the real world, a siphon can refer to a wide variety of devices that involve the flow of liquids through tubes.[2]
- The objects are named Siphons because they are able to channel the power and even empty it if necessary, essentially siphoning power.
- When an Illyrian takes part in the Blood Rite, they are not permitted to use any magic, including a siphon.
References[]
- ↑ A Court of Mist and Fury: Chapter 16
- ↑ Wikipedia: Siphon